Allison Mueller/Winonan

While students at Winona State University celebrated Homecoming this weekend, Winona State women’s rugby team, the Black Katts, celebrated their shutout win against Duluth 39-0 on Saturday.

Since the game was an away game on Homecoming weekend against a tough team, the Black Katts knew that they had to really concentrate in order to maintain their winning streak.

“Winning the game will take a team effort all around,” coach Josh Krzewinski said. “It will require us to be sharp with our offensive patterns, as well as play team defense. If we eliminate handling mistakes, make our tackles, counter rucks, it will be a good day.”

Krzewinski, coach Roger Riley, and lock player Kourtney Kavajecz all said that the key to winning the game against Duluth was to play as a team.

“If we play as a team and stick to our pattern, we will be good as gold,” Kavajecz said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Unfortunately, things weren’t quite as simple at the start of the game. Riley said, “We actually came out flat.”

The first seven minutes were spent on defense for the Black Katts after Duluth had a nice kick off.

After 20 minutes of fighting for possession up and down the field, Katie Dries made a penalty kick and finally put the Black Katts on the board 3-0.

Caitlin Courtney later received the ball and broke a tackle for a try. After the conversion by Dries the score was 10-0.

Freshman Lanoria Duhart kept low body position and left the Duluth defense with little left to do to stop her when she went over the line and scored her first try, bringing the score 15-0.

When the whistle blew for halftime, Riley said that the energy levels were rising.

After the Black Katts made three substitutions and talked about the areas they needed to improve on for the second half, the team stepped out onto the cold, soggy field with determination.

The second half saw nicely timed passes from the backs, the first from Courtney that set up Nikki Linberg for a try in the corner, making it a 20-0 game.

Another pass from Nadia Nassif allowed Courtney another try that was converted by Dries, bringing the score 27-0.

A series of five meter scrums led Kathryn Zahn over for a try and conversion by Dries, making the score 34-0.

For the final points, Dries made a quick pass to Courtney, bringing the game to a final score of 39-0.

Both Krzewinski and Riley said that the second half was the turning point for the Black Katts.

“The second half proved to be much better as we settled down and let our athleticism take over.” Krzewinski said.

Riley also said, “In the second half our superior fitness won the game for us.”

The Black Katts practice hard and are pushed by their coaches in order to come out on top every week and achieve this “superior fitness.”

“We know we are the strongest and most fit team in Minnesota,” Krzewinski said. “So we have to figure out a way to challenge ourselves mentally as well as physically.”

Along with athleticism, the Black Katts’ ability to play as a team and perform their individual skills allowed them to win.

“Duluth challenged us, and when we played together, communicated on the field and executed the patterns of offense and defense we worked on at practice, we did well.” Krzewinski said.

Kavajecz said that in the end it is not about the score or winning.

“It’s about playing your hardest, side by side with your teammates, your sisters, and working together towards becoming the absolute best team that we can be,” Kavajecz said.

The Black Katts will show Saint Cloud State University exactly the team they are on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m. at Southeast Tech.

“It is our last game before playoffs, and we must be more focused and mentally prepared prior to the game,” Riley said. “St. Cloud is not the strongest team so we have to come out and take no prisoners.”

Contact Allison at [email protected]